A&E: Behind the scene, Sept. 29

Sep. 26, 2013

Robert Schanke. / Special to the Register

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Homegrown art, theater kudos and music to musicians' ears

• CSA DSM has sent out a call for artists to participate in what may be Des Moines’ first community-supported art program. It’s modeled off community-supported agriculture, where customers buy shares of whatever a farmer happens to produce. But instead of veggies, it’s a fresh batch (or three, actually) of artwork.

• The Association of Theatre in Higher Education has honored Robert Schanke with a 2013 Career Achievement Award in Educational Theater. Schanke taught theater at Central College in Pella for 27 years, during which time he published 10 books and directed plays in Mexico, England and Wales.

• The 68 members of Orchestra Iowa (formerly the Cedar Rapids Symphony) recently signed a new three-year contract with a 21 percent increase in minimum base pay. That’s especially good news in a time when other orchestras are struggling to make ends meet. (The Minnesota Orchestra is entering its second year of a lockout.)

OI and its various chamber groups play 150 events every year. And like the members of the Des Moines Symphony, they’re paid per performance (or rehearsal) rather than full-time.